Bishan Singh Bedi passes away: Five important facts about the cricket legend

Bishan Singh Bedi, former India captain, passed away at 77 on Monday after a prolonged illness. The legendary cricketer, who was considered one of the best left-arm spinners, breathed his last at his residence in Delhi. He featured in 67 Test matches for India and took 277 wickets. Bedi also played in 10 ODIs and took seven wickets.

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We take a look at the five most important facts about the Indian cricketing legend:

1. Bishan Singh Bedi became India’s captain after Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi retired and led the team in 22 Tests between 1976 and 1978, He took 106 wickets in those 22 matches at an average of 24.82 and also registered his best bowling figures for a match — 10/194.

2. In 1978, he forfeited an ODI against Pakistan because of ‘blatantly unfair’ umpiring. During India’s chase, the umpire did not give a wide despite Sarfaraz Nawaz bowling bouncers that went over the Indian batter’s head and this made Bedi forfeit the match.

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3. Bedi took 1,560 first-class wickets in his career which is the most by any Indian bowler ever.

4. The Punjab cricketer held the record for the best economy rate in an ODI from 1975 to 1992 for his bowling figures of 12-8-6-1 during the 1975 World Cup against East Africa.

5. Bishan Singh Bedi also coached the Indian national team briefly in 1990 and was the first person to be named a full-time coach.